Combination desk monitor and receptacle



June 5, 1951 R. M. HARRIS 2,555,743

COMBINATION DESK MONITOR AND RECEPTACLE Filed March 4, 1949 I 1 VENTOR. ff ujmnl fl.%77"46' Patented June 5, I951 COMBINATION DESK MONITOR AND RECEPTACLE' Richard M. Harris, Putnam Valley, N. Y.

Application March 4, 1949, Serial No. 79,851

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in desk articles and, more specifically, to a new and improved combination desk monitor, receptacle and interchangeable name plate holder.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which combines to one integral article a desk monitor, a receptacle having various compartments and a name plate holder, thus making it possible-according to modern tendencies-to reduce to a minimum the number of articles on the desk of an executive or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is of a pleasing outer appearance, and which is also sturdy and durable, but which is of a very simple construction, so that it can be manufactured and sold at a very reasonable price, or can be distributed free of charge as an advertising article. In the latter case its advertising value will be increased considerably due to the fact that its writing pad can be made in such a manner that only the advertisers pad fits the attractive, useful device which serves three different purposes and replaces three desk articles. Thus, when a pad has been used up, the User is induced to get in touch with the advertiser in order to obtain a new pad, lest he decides to do without this practical desk article. In this way the customers contact with the advertiser will be renewed from time to time, and the latter can use a portion of the space on each sheet of the writing pad for his advertising purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 is a fractional side elevation showing the device open;

Fig. 6 is a fractional view on the line 5--6 of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing the numeral I denotes a wedgeshaped base plate having an inclined top surface 2, to which is secured an intermediate plate 3 that is provided with perforations I I and 2E). The perforations II constitute convenient compartments adapted for receiving pencils, pens, paper clips, and the like.

While in the present instance the parts I and 3 are shown as two single parts, which are secured to one another, it will be obvious that they could be made also as a unit comprising a base having an inclined top surface and being provided with open compartments which terminate at the top surface 2 and which extend into the lower portion of the base, which in the present instance is denoted by the numeral I. The making of the base of two parts I and 3 is less expensive than making them as a unit and then carving out the compartments II, particularly if the device is made of wood.

A lid 6 is hinged to the plate 3 at t and is adapted for covering the perforations Ii. A writing pad is secured to the top surface of the lid 55 by means of bolts 8 and nuts s or by any other suitable means. In the instance shown the bolts 8 extend through a plate 2| and the pad 7 into the lid 6, and the nuts 9 are adapted for tightening the parts I and El upon the lid 6. The lower end portion of the latter, beyond the pad I, preferably is provided with a groove Ill adapted for receiving a pencil or the like.

Opposite the perforation 20 there is extended into the lid 6, from its lower side, a recess or a slot 22, and the upper end of a lever [2, which extends into the recess 22, is pivotally secured to the lid E by means of a pin I3. The lever I2 is laterally resilient, and its lower end I4 is laterally curved (Fig. 6). An upright plate 23, one side of which is provided with notches or with serrations I5, is secured to one vertical wall of the recess It by means of countersunk screws ll or the like and is extended into the perforation 20. The end [4 of the lever I2 is in frictional engagement with the notches I5 of the plate 23, so that the lid ii will be held in any angular position relative to the base plate I.

I prefer to provide one vertical side of the base plate I, preferably its front side, with a U-shaped frame member I8 adapted for holding interchan eably a name plate I9.

Since certain chan es may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a liimting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Havin thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

A device of the character described comprising a wedge-shaped base plate having a recess extending from a corner portion of its top surface into the base plate, an intermediate perforated plate of considerable thickness being secured to the inclined top surface of said base plate and having one of its perforations register with the recess in the corner portion of said base plate, a lid adapted for covering said intermediate plate being hinged to said intermediate plate and havin a recess which extends from the lower surface of one of its corner portions into the lid, a laterally resilient lever having its upper end pivotally arranged in the recess of said intermediate plate while its lower end is laterally curved, and an upright plate having a notched surface and a smooth surface and having its smooth surface secured to the upright wall of 4 the recess in the corner portion of said base plate and extending into that perforation of said intermediate plate which registers with the recess in the base plate, said lever extending into said recess in said base plate through that perforation in said intermediate plate which registers with the recess in said base plate,'and the curved lower end of said lever being in frictional engagement with the notched surface of said up-.

right plate.

RICHARD M. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 64,902 Pember May 21, 1867 535,462 Richter Mar. 12, 1895 617,832 Kling Jan. 17, 1899 1,405,433 Peterson Feb. 7, 1922 1,505,458 Witt Aug. 19, 1924 1,900,401 Scully Mar. 7, 1933 1,920,452 Wagner Aug. 1, 1933 1,976,081 Merrill Oct. 9, 1934 1,986,307 Wagner Jan. 1, 1935 2,202,300 Posnack May 28, 1940 2,226,132 LeLong Dec. 24, 1940 2,285,235 Taubert June 2, 1942 2,417,879 Merritt Mar. 25, 1947 

